Tours/Christchurch/Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Jet Boating
Viator · group up to 24 pax

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Jet Boating

4.7(38)Christchurch1 hour
VIATOR4.7(31)TRIPADVISOR4.9(7)

Description

Enjoy a city tour of Christchurch taking in not only the damage to the city by several earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 and the rebuild currently taking place but also the remaining historic landmarks and the existing beauty of this picturesque city. Then enjoy A rare opportunity to Jet Boat on the Waimakariri River, a fast flowing shallow braided river where you will experience jet boating at its very best.

Tour Options

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Jet Boating
  • Pickup included

Itinerary

30 min

The default start time is 8.30am or up to 1 hour after your ship commences disembarkation, depending on what time your ship docks.

30 min

Best spot to admire some spectacular views over the City, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps.

30 min

Time spent walking through Mona Vale Gardens with its picturesque Gardens, Ponds & river.

20 min

Time spent on foot exploring Cathedral Square

30 min

Lunch Break

Admission included60 min

Jet Boating on the Waimakariri River - 30 minute exhilarating ride

Highlights

Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
Jet-boat ride
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Port pick up and drop off
Live commentary on board

What's included

Included
Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
Jet-boat ride
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Port pick up and drop off
Live commentary on board
Not included
Food and drinks

Pickup Locations & Times

Meeting instructions will be sent upon booking. Please note that the default time for this tour is 8.30am but this can be amended depending on your cruise ships arrival and departure times.

Traveller Ratings

4.7
38 reviews
5
31
4
5
3
1
2
0
1
1

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Life-vests and splash-proof jackets provided on jet-boat
  • At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
  • Not suitable for child aged 2 and under

Reviews(38)

S
stshelt
April 1, 2026
Christchurch shore excursion

Great shore excursion that allowed private time in Christchurch and really enjoyed the jet boat tour.

Operator response

Great review - received with thanks.

F
Francesca_S
March 29, 2026
Christchurch tour... or earthquake tour?

Was a lovely tour and jet boat experience. We had Joseph as our guide and he told us lots of stories especially about the earthquakes and aftermath. It felt a bit too much like an earthquake tour with him describing almost every other building that had fallen or was abandoned. The jet boat was good fun, not too high speeds with a few turns

Operator response

Thank you for your review and your comments and noted.

H
Heather_B
March 13, 2026
Full Throttle Fun

Very cool experience. My heart was racing after we got finished. Must do experience and our guide Scottie was fantastic!

Operator response

When you have scotty at the wheel there is a lot to take in. He does his best to ensure a full on fullfilling tour.

S
Sally_M
March 2, 2026
Christchurch overview, gardens, football & jet boat ride.

We were docked at Littleton on a cruise and they picked us up from the free shuttle and brought us back in a timely fashion. They ended up putting several ventures together so we went for a walk in the free BEAUTIFUL gardens then the food hall downtown & also drove around town learning a lot about Christchurch and their devastating earthquakes from our guide. Then we dropped people off at the Antarctica Experience & the zoo and the rest of us went to the river and had our 30 minute jet boat ride. The driver was great. It was a lot of fun and then we went back and picked up the other passengers from their events and returned back.

Operator response

Great review and comments - sounds like you packed a lot in to your day excursion which is fabulous. Informative, fun and timing was not an issue - perfect!

M
michaelbU1579LD
February 28, 2026
Great trip and informative guide.

A great trip with our guide Greg who was super informative and interesting. We started out with panoramic views over Christchurch to understand the layout of the city, followed by a walk around the Mona Vale Gardens which were stunning. There a tour around the city centre seeing a lot of the sights finishing up with lunch at the Riverside area. Finally, the jet boat ride which was great fun with our driver explaining how the river impacts on the city.

Operator response

Thank you for your comments and so pleased you had a great time exploring our city - topped off with jet boat thrills. A great day all round!

D
Doreen_G
February 26, 2026
Enjoyable tour of...

Enjoyable tour of Christchurch with a very knowledgeable driver/ guide along with a thrilling Jet boat ride

Operator response

Thank you for your review and so pleased you enjoyed the jet boat thrills. A great way to see the Waimakariri River up close.

S
Samantha H
February 26, 2026
Great tour of Christchurch

This was a great tour to see the sights of Christchurch with a knowledgable and accommodating guide Joseph. The company put 3 different tours on one mini bus which was the only negative as it meant approx extra 90 minutes of driving and waiting dropping off and picking up and waiting for the others - meaning we were gone from 9am - 4:40pm a long day in the bus. Not our guides fault. Pre tour great communication and responsive with easy to follow directions.

Operator response

Great comments and thank you for highlighting Joseph. It is always tricky satisfying everyone and do our best to ensure a great experience for all.

K
Krystle_P
February 23, 2026
Joseph, our driver and...

Joseph, our driver and guide was very engaging (and funny). We learned so much about Christchurch throughout the day. The areas he took us through and stopped at were brilliant, the day was very well timed and the jetboat ride was just the cream on the cake. Brilliant day.

Operator response

Sounds like a brilliant day all round. Joseph had fun too!

S
Suzanne_J
February 22, 2026
A terrific day out in...

A terrific day out in Christchurch! Our tour guide, Joseph was heaps of fun and super informative. You can tell he really loves his home town and knows so much about it. The Jet boat experience was also amazing. Highly recommended.

Operator response

Great review - thank you. And thank you for mentioning Joseph - you are right, he loves his city!

J
Joan_W
January 10, 2026
More sightseeing then jet boating

Had hoped the jet boat ride was more than a quickie! It was fun, just know it’s a 20 minute activity at the end of sightseeing Christchurch!

Operator response

Thank you for your review - yep the jet boat is short, sharp snappy and great fun. It is designed to ensure a taste whilst encompassing a city tour and meeting your ship's deadlines.

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